But when the carriage containing the King drew up before the scaffold, the mob was silent—even the September men, for a little time, held their peace.
The King perceiving the carriage stop, looked up, and said to the Abbé, “We have arrived, I think.”
The minister replied by a gesture.
One of the three brothers Sanson, the three executioners of Paris, opened the door.
The gendarmes got out, whereupon the King, closing the door, and placing his hand upon the minister, he said authoritatively to those who were pressing forward, “Gentlemen, I recommend this gentleman to your care. Be brave enough to save him from insult after I am dead. I charge you to save him!”
No one replied.
“I charge you to save him!”
One of them, more sinister than the rest, replied.
“Yes, yes,” he said; “be at peace—we will save him, and let us hear no more about it.”
Louis now stepped from the carriage.